Williams announces newest building plan

By Zachary MilesPrint Story | Email Story
Above, the New West, as envisioned by architects. Below, the Old West
WILLIAMSTOWN — In a surprise announcement last night, Williams College President Morton O. Schapiro unveiled an ambitious new plan to replace the oldest building on the Williams campus, the Old West College building. Citing the age of the colonial-era structure, originally built in 1790-91, Schapiro said, “Williams can no longer be known as an institution with 210-year-old infrastructure. It is important to send a message to our prospective students that we are on the cutting edge of architecture, technology and campus planning.” With a flourish, Schapiro then removed a large drapery covering an artist’s easel, revealing the architects’ concept for what will be known as “New West College.” The illustration appeared to show a huge, transparent dome standing where the Old West College building has stood for 213 years. “This building will be built using the absolute latest innovation in structural materials — transparent aluminum!” Schapiro enthused. “It will be an exciting and powerful new vision of the future of Williamstown and the entire North Berkshire region.” Anticipating the likely objections to the unusual appearance of the building, he said, “Because we recognize the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of the town and college, and because our award-winning architects have taken into account the fond feelings people have for the original Old West College building, we have arranged to a have a three-dimensional holographic image of Old West College projected inside the dome every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. So we’ll have all the charm of the old, with the convenience of the new, and tourists and passersby will hardly notice the difference!” Townspeople and college employees alike were dismayed at that point in the meeting when perennial gadfly and amateur architectural critic Dagmar Bubriski’s head exploded. After a 15-minute recess to clean up the architectural drawings, the meeting resumed with a presentation by Bill Faster, founder of the architectural firm of Faster, Better and Howe. Faster explained that, in addition to the revolutionary external appearance of the New West College building, the interior will also break new ground. “This building contains almost 1.2 million cubic feet of usable space,” Faster explained, “and every inch of that space is completely customizable. Rather than locking the college into some antiquated concept of interior space planning, we have maximized the usability of this building by eliminating fixed walls, floors, and ceilings, enabling the college to fully and flexibly utilize this facility.” Asked how, exactly, he envisioned the building being used, given that it had no floors, walls or ceilings, Faster said, “That‚s the beauty of it! Williams College is recognized around the world for having some of the most intelligent, thoughtful and creative students on the planet. Who are we to tell them how to use this space? We have designed a spatial canvas on which they can paint their dreams.” Repeatedly pressed for additional details, Faster pointed out that the interior skin of the dome was riddled with “attachment points” for “flexible furnishings,” allowing chairs, desks, partitions and other “historical artifacts of our physical existence” to be suspended in “myriad, ever-changing and evolving patterns of usefulness.” At that point, several townspeople (including several prominent Williams alumni) began shouting and rushed the stage. A minor riot broke out in the aisles, and Williams security personnel, assisted by Williamstown police officers, immediately stepped in and cleared the room, bringing the meeting to an abrupt and premature close. Contacted via telephone this morning, President Schapiro said he was “pleased, as always, by the enthusiasm and concern demonstrated by the people of Williamstown for this very special place we all call home.” He could not say when, exactly, the next public meeting on the plans to replace Old West College might be held, but he did say that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building should take place in time for “leaf-peeper season,” with demolition of the “old brickpile” to begin immediately thereafter. Editor’s note: April Fool, of course. There are no plans to replace the Old West College building. A local resident wrote this article as a spoof of the perennial controversies over Williams College construction projects.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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